Jean Elaine Lee
June 6, 1933 ~ March 31, 2025
Age 91
Jean and her twin sister, Joyce, were born June 6, 1933 in Iowa City, IA to parents Edward and Louise Kallem. They were the 11th and 12th children to be born to the Kallems. Jean grew up in Eagle Grove, IA where she graduated from high school in 1952.
After high school, Jean moved to Des Moines, IA and worked for the telephone company until November, 1953, when she married Virgil Lee.
Virgil was in the Air Force and Jean adapted her life to that of a military wife. They had 3 children during their marriage, Cindy, Terry, and Patty. They moved frequently, even living overseas on Guam for 2 years and Germany for 3 years. Virgil’s last tour before retirement was to Offutt AFB in Bellevue, NE. After retirement, they settled in Bellevue, purchasing a home in 1971. Sadly, the couple divorced in 1976.
Jean worked at Sears at Southroads, at first in the office and then as a sales associate. After 20 years, she retired from Sears and went to work for Younkers at Crossroads until they closed the store. She was 71 when she retired.
Jean was a member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church for many years and her faith in God never waivered.
She had several hobbies she enjoyed. She loved music and purchased a little organ and taught herself to play. Jean loved her garden and always planted way too much, but at harvest time her abundance of tomatoes or cucumbers were readily shared with anyone who would take them.
She loved to crochet and made many beautiful afghans and potholders for family and friends.
Jean was a great cook and loved reading cookbooks and magazines and constantly tried out new recipes. Her creativity really shined when she made and decorated cakes. There were very few celebrations that didn’t have a special cake created for it by her. ESPECIALLY for the grandchildren, whom she adored.
Jean was a loving, kind, and caring daughter, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother. She will be greatly missed.
Jean is survived by her daughters Cynthia J. McMullen (James); Patricia J. Garriga (Forrest); grandchildren Corianne Lambert (Kevin), Nisa Kesseler (Eric), Justin Ann Lee, Kathryn Gillen (Andrew), Erin McMullen (Nicholas Adair), Samantha Zeisloft, Ryan Garriga (Heather), Colton Garriga; great grandchildren Sarah, Daniel & Brian Kesseler, Poppy Adair, Alexis Sharkey-Bean (Brent) & Maxwell Lambert; great great-granddaughter Kenzie Sharkey-Bean; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents Edward Ole & Louise M. Kallem; son Terry A. Lee; grandson Terry Lee, Jr.; brothers James, Robert, Kenneth, Floyd, Ernest & Donald Kallem; sisters Vivian Jones, Rose Thompson, Elsie Minor, Dorothy Cripps & Joyce Champlin.
Memorial Service: Friday, June 27, 11:00 a.m., Bellevue Memorial Chapel
To view a live broadcast of the service, click on the link below.
https://boxcast.tv/view/jean-elaine-lee-ubgaufj6vo4qjtyp7il5
Inurnment: Bellevue Cemetery
Memorials: Alzheimer’s Association / www.alz.org
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